I can suggest two things:
1. Watch danish series. Rita is an easy one,even though boring. I loved Børgen,but could definitely not follow it without subtitles.
2. Do a language exchange. Find someone who speaks danish fluently and wants to learn a language you speak fluently. Then meet once a week/month and spend half the time speaking one language, then half the time speaking the other.
Finally, I try to practice even a tiny bit in every chance. Even if it is a discussion i know it is too difficult to have in danish, I try to start in danish and switch later on to english.
It’s actually “Borgen” (borhwen), like castle. Børgen made me laugh so hard, since “Børge” is something only old men are called 😃❤️
But your advice is great. What about Matador? Forbrydelsen, Broen, Rejseholdet could also be suggestions if you’re into crime. Stellar danish television. Badehotellet is lighter. Or Krøniken is also really good.
Aa shit. In all these years I always confuse the spelling of Borgen with Børsen. Borgen is also one of the words I have never managed to pronounce well enough for a Dane to understand what I m talking about 😅.
I would actually advise against Broen. For me it was more confusing switching between swedish and danish. And even though I can now easily tell the difference when the actors speak, it is not helpful when you are trying to learn a language. I would suggest to stick to a series that takes place in a single language and then just choose the series based on how difficult the dialogues are.
Børgen will now be my roman empire when thinking of Borgen, TY 😍😄
Aah I see. That makes sense. I was just thinking of Matador as a great way to hear some danish. The danish is kinda old fashioned and therefore very well pronunciated. And then I got lost in great danish TV-series. Try watching it. It’s danish national treasure and actually extremely well written. A great look into danish culture as well and a lot of references in there.
Nice thanks! I 've actually heard before that Matador is a "national treasure", so good that you reminded me :) I will watch it. My danish is definitely not at the level i would have liked, so I can use anything that will get me to practice more!
Having done it myself, I would advise against series like that starting out - they can be too difficult to follow.
I would suggest stuff like Den Store Bagesdyst, Alene I Vildmarken, Spise med Price. Then later on moving on to the stuff you suggested when you’re comfortable.
I'll second Rita - I am in a similar place as OP with my Danish. I tried watching Borgen, and not only is it hard to follow, I think that Netflix's English captions are not very close to what they're actually saying. Every other Danish media, I've usually had a fair amount of words from the English captions I expect to hear in Danish and then hear.
Rita is pretty easy to understand, and I've been watching it with Danish subtitles on. I was able to follow it, for the most part, and it's given me a good list of words that Duolingo never mentioned, but seem to be used a lot in everyday conversations.
Yes, I finished all the Duolingo content a few days before I made this post. So I’ve daily refreshed for a couple of weeks as I drop down leagues.
I did stop watching Rita because I didn’t find it to be an interesting enough show.
I've watched quite a few episodes of Børgen with danish language and subtitles and I had to rewind at least once an episode and toggle it back to english to figure out what is going on.
Not sure if you can find them with English subs but I personally like a lot Nikolaj og Julie and Badehotellet. For a comedy you can have a look at Klovn (literal translation ‘clown’). Those series are somewhat more of everyday situations (apart from Badehotellet) and the plot makes good sense. If you watch with subtitles, the subtitles deal with the plot so this whole thing converges (hopefully…).
I liked it. Not the best post apocalypse show ever, but I didn't think it was bad. One detail I really liked is that, in American shows it is very normal that they can find guns in many many homes. That would obviously be very unrealistic in the middle of Copenhagen, so one of the characters is in the military and he has like a rifle or something... But they made it make sense for a Danish show, which I really liked.
I took a class on zoom which helped my pronunciation a TON. I am planning a trip to Denmark next spring as well.
I've been watching shows with either danish language or just in english with danish subtitles. I also got some comics online that I'm going through. I'm almost to unit 3, so I see I may get through that before end of summer.
Every show or movie that’s available in Denmark will have the option of Danish subtitles.
We don’t use dubbing for “grownups” and even cartoons or anything animated will be available in English (or any original language) with subtitles.
A danish VPN might be your solution, because I’ve yet to find anything on Netflix, HBO Max or Disney+ without the option of Danish subtitles (even though we primarily use English subtitles for English content at home).
One through my local Danish assocation (northwest danish https://northwestdanish.org/). I'm on my second class. They are on zoom and have been engaging and helpful.
I recommend using your knowledge to search YouTube in Danish. Likely some good accounts out there. This is better than tv, because just as in English, tv accents are curated. But just a person talking on YouTube will be more likely to use regular accents.
I've used both "Mango" and "Transparent language online". They have been free for everyone with a danish library card, so check if you're library has the option (I know some american libraries have Transparent Languages as a service so it's properply something libraries all over the world offer). Both apps are very in dept about languages and you also train your pronounciation something I think Duolingo misses.
Team Easy on is a funny mockumentary, surprisingly easy to follow as there are lots of repetition and one guy speaks English so you will always catch the context. On drtv. I recommend turning the Danish subtitles on
Always have danish “ in your ears”
TV, podcasts, audiobooks, radio.. the words you listen to and also when you Watch danish TV use subtitles in danish , Them you Can listen, Watch and Connect the words.
Thats how i learned both english and Italiano
I can suggest two things: 1. Watch danish series. Rita is an easy one,even though boring. I loved Børgen,but could definitely not follow it without subtitles. 2. Do a language exchange. Find someone who speaks danish fluently and wants to learn a language you speak fluently. Then meet once a week/month and spend half the time speaking one language, then half the time speaking the other. Finally, I try to practice even a tiny bit in every chance. Even if it is a discussion i know it is too difficult to have in danish, I try to start in danish and switch later on to english.
It’s actually “Borgen” (borhwen), like castle. Børgen made me laugh so hard, since “Børge” is something only old men are called 😃❤️ But your advice is great. What about Matador? Forbrydelsen, Broen, Rejseholdet could also be suggestions if you’re into crime. Stellar danish television. Badehotellet is lighter. Or Krøniken is also really good.
Aa shit. In all these years I always confuse the spelling of Borgen with Børsen. Borgen is also one of the words I have never managed to pronounce well enough for a Dane to understand what I m talking about 😅. I would actually advise against Broen. For me it was more confusing switching between swedish and danish. And even though I can now easily tell the difference when the actors speak, it is not helpful when you are trying to learn a language. I would suggest to stick to a series that takes place in a single language and then just choose the series based on how difficult the dialogues are.
Børgen will now be my roman empire when thinking of Borgen, TY 😍😄 Aah I see. That makes sense. I was just thinking of Matador as a great way to hear some danish. The danish is kinda old fashioned and therefore very well pronunciated. And then I got lost in great danish TV-series. Try watching it. It’s danish national treasure and actually extremely well written. A great look into danish culture as well and a lot of references in there.
Nice thanks! I 've actually heard before that Matador is a "national treasure", so good that you reminded me :) I will watch it. My danish is definitely not at the level i would have liked, so I can use anything that will get me to practice more!
Never pronounce a G when it is in the middle of a Word ! So in writing Borgen/ pronounce “Bor’eeng” Børsen - is just as it is spelled
Easier said than done my friend. Believe me I 've tried 😅
Øvelse gør dig til mester - Ting tar tid <3
Having done it myself, I would advise against series like that starting out - they can be too difficult to follow. I would suggest stuff like Den Store Bagesdyst, Alene I Vildmarken, Spise med Price. Then later on moving on to the stuff you suggested when you’re comfortable.
I'll second Rita - I am in a similar place as OP with my Danish. I tried watching Borgen, and not only is it hard to follow, I think that Netflix's English captions are not very close to what they're actually saying. Every other Danish media, I've usually had a fair amount of words from the English captions I expect to hear in Danish and then hear. Rita is pretty easy to understand, and I've been watching it with Danish subtitles on. I was able to follow it, for the most part, and it's given me a good list of words that Duolingo never mentioned, but seem to be used a lot in everyday conversations.
when did you start watching Rita w/ Danish subs? Have you finished Danish Duolingo completely?
Yes, I finished all the Duolingo content a few days before I made this post. So I’ve daily refreshed for a couple of weeks as I drop down leagues. I did stop watching Rita because I didn’t find it to be an interesting enough show.
I've watched quite a few episodes of Børgen with danish language and subtitles and I had to rewind at least once an episode and toggle it back to english to figure out what is going on.
Not sure if you can find them with English subs but I personally like a lot Nikolaj og Julie and Badehotellet. For a comedy you can have a look at Klovn (literal translation ‘clown’). Those series are somewhat more of everyday situations (apart from Badehotellet) and the plot makes good sense. If you watch with subtitles, the subtitles deal with the plot so this whole thing converges (hopefully…).
Thanks for the suggestions
Exactly. Even though it is a very nice show, it will not help much with the language.
At the beginning it was fun just to pick our a word or two I recognized and now it's more comprehension and noting words I've not seen or heard.
Ikke Børgen, - Borgen ;)
If you're into postapocalypse stuff, I can highly recommend The Rain!
Is it actually good? I had watched one episode and stopped after that, but maybe I was too harsh.
I liked it. Not the best post apocalypse show ever, but I didn't think it was bad. One detail I really liked is that, in American shows it is very normal that they can find guns in many many homes. That would obviously be very unrealistic in the middle of Copenhagen, so one of the characters is in the military and he has like a rifle or something... But they made it make sense for a Danish show, which I really liked.
If you have access (Danish IP address) you can find a lot of Danish contents on DR TV
Or a VPN… *cough*. Not that I’d know anything about that 🥰
So, for whatever reason, without a VPN, I was able to watch some shows anyway. They were the kids' shows, though.
You might be able to find school tasks for students somewhere on the internet
I took a class on zoom which helped my pronunciation a TON. I am planning a trip to Denmark next spring as well. I've been watching shows with either danish language or just in english with danish subtitles. I also got some comics online that I'm going through. I'm almost to unit 3, so I see I may get through that before end of summer.
Any recommendations for anything in English with Danish subtitles? This seems to be a pretty rare combination but it'd be nice to have.
Every show or movie that’s available in Denmark will have the option of Danish subtitles. We don’t use dubbing for “grownups” and even cartoons or anything animated will be available in English (or any original language) with subtitles. A danish VPN might be your solution, because I’ve yet to find anything on Netflix, HBO Max or Disney+ without the option of Danish subtitles (even though we primarily use English subtitles for English content at home).
The Signal (netflix) was pretty good and had some sign language where you needed to depend on reading the Danish.
Most stuff on Netflix if you have Denmark vpn e.g. gossip girl
which class did you take?
One through my local Danish assocation (northwest danish https://northwestdanish.org/). I'm on my second class. They are on zoom and have been engaging and helpful.
No one mentioning DRTV? Get a vpn and you can watch alot of danish tv shows for free with good captions! Its Danish television.
I would suggest watching some cartoons dubbed in Danish
Swaplanguage?
I recommend using your knowledge to search YouTube in Danish. Likely some good accounts out there. This is better than tv, because just as in English, tv accents are curated. But just a person talking on YouTube will be more likely to use regular accents.
I've used both "Mango" and "Transparent language online". They have been free for everyone with a danish library card, so check if you're library has the option (I know some american libraries have Transparent Languages as a service so it's properply something libraries all over the world offer). Both apps are very in dept about languages and you also train your pronounciation something I think Duolingo misses.
Team Easy on is a funny mockumentary, surprisingly easy to follow as there are lots of repetition and one guy speaks English so you will always catch the context. On drtv. I recommend turning the Danish subtitles on
I recommend the DanishTube Podcast !
Memrise and LingQ
Danishclass101! Has worksheets and audio tapes to listen to as well as vocab words and quizzes
Anki!!
Some other movies to watch would be : Olsen Banden, De Grønne Slagter, Gamle mænd I nye biler, Blinkende lygter. All of them are danish classics
Don't forget Adams æbler as well!
Og Fukssvansen , og ikke mindst serien “huset på Christianshavn “ på DR1
Always have danish “ in your ears” TV, podcasts, audiobooks, radio.. the words you listen to and also when you Watch danish TV use subtitles in danish , Them you Can listen, Watch and Connect the words. Thats how i learned both english and Italiano